Fosse: Plays Six (10 page)

you and I

OLD WOMAN

We’ve been here

for so very

many years

OLD MAN

That’s how it turned out

yes

Pause

THE SHADOW

This is earth

and mould

This is rock

and sea

This is air

and wind

Short pause

OLD MAN

We were here

And then you were gone

OLD WOMAN

I’m gone

and I’m here

OLD MAN

Yes

OLD WOMAN

But now I’m

here with you

OLD MAN

And you must be here

Quite short pause

OLD WOMAN

I will

quite short pause

I’ll always be

with you

Pause

OLD MAN

And I will

yes

short pause

I’ll disappear in this

quite short pause

the way you have disappeared

the way you are gone

OLD WOMAN

Yes

OLD MAN

continues

I want to be gone in this

I want to be gone in all this

I

breaks off

I

I like them

like all of them

I just like them

like you’re gone

I want to be gone too

like all those

who have been here before me

have existed here

lived here

quite short pause

they have all disappeared

all are gone

quite short pause

forever gone

quite short pause

my father

my mother

my grandfather

my grandmother

All of them

All of them are gone

all of them have disappeared

quite short pause

here

here in this landscape

have they disappeared

OLD WOMAN

And they have become

this landscape

OLD MAN

continues

and now

breaks off

now

now

short pause

no I don’t want to any longer

I don’t want to anymore

because where are you

THE SHADOW

to The Old Woman

You must come now

We’re going now

OLD MAN

I don’t want to any longer

Short pause

I don’t want to any longer

no longer

be the one who sees

I see

I’m the eyes that see

And I don’t want to see

Quite short pause

And were are you

I’m waiting for you

always

I miss you

OLD WOMAN

I’m here

You can see that

I’m here

I’m here with you

THE SHADOW

to The Old Woman

You must come now

OLD MAN

I’ve seen enough

I look and look

I am these eyes

that see

everything

short pause

and I see

breaks off
,
quite short pause

and always all this talk

always I just talk

He starts to walk around, and The Young Man follows him

Talk and talk

OLD WOMAN

And now it’s just you

who are left here

OLD MAN

Yes

THE SHADOW

to The Old Woman

But come now

You must come now

What are you waiting for

Why don’t you come

OLD MAN

I don’t want to be here any longer

Quite short pause

OLD WOMAN

But

Short pause

OLD MAN

Yes

OLD WOMAN

But

quite short pause

yes do you remember when we met

quite short pause

here

when we got together

you and I

do you remember

OLD MAN

Yes

yes of course

Short pause

OLD WOMAN

Always you and I

do you remember

OLD MAN

Yes

yes I remember

OLD WOMAN

Always you and I

Now don’t you forget that

OLD MAN

No

quite short pause

no I won’t

forget that

THE SHADOW

to The Old Woman

You must come now

OLD WOMAN

You and I

always you and I

OLD MAN

Yes

Short pause

OLD WOMAN

Yes

And here where there was

so much life so much noise

short pause

our children

OLD MAN

Yes

OLD WOMAN

And now it’s quiet

OLD MAN

Yes

And you

quite short pause

you were just gone

quite short pause

left me

were gone

Quite short pause

OLD WOMAN

Now everything

quite short pause

is quiet

short pause

but

quite short pause

but the islands

and the fjord

quite short pause

and out there

the ocean

are still the same

quite short pause

and the mountains

they are still the same

OLD MAN

And may it always be like that

OLD WOMAN

That’s the way it is

and the way it shall be

Pause

OLD MAN

Yes may it always be

Pause

OLD WOMAN

You’re not feeling well today

OLD MAN

No

No I don’t suppose I am

not quite

OLD WOMAN

You’ll get better

you wait

OLD MAN

I’ll get better

yes perhaps

OLD WOMAN

It always gets better

Short pause

And we should be

yes be happy

that we have each other

you and I

OLD MAN

But I’m alone

You’re not here any longer

OLD WOMAN

Always you and I

you old thing

you good thing

OLD MAN

Good old thing

OLD WOMAN

You good old thing

OLD MAN

And you

you good thing

OLD WOMAN

Good thing

THE SHADOW

to The Old Woman

But you must come now

You can’t be here any longer

come now

come then

OLD WOMAN

Good thing

Good old thing

short pause

it’ll be fine

you’ll see

quite short pause

and I’m here with you

I am

OLD MAN

Yes

OLD WOMAN

Even when I’m not here with you

I still am

OLD MAN

Yes

quite short pause

yes perhaps

you are

OLD WOMAN

Good thing

you good thing

short pause

and we who were

quite short pause

so young

quite short pause

so young

and so vulnerable

quite short pause

fumbling

The Young Woman and The Young Man look at each other, then they look down

insecure

OLD MAN

Were we vulnerable

OLD WOMAN

Yes

quite short pause

you remember

OLD MAN

Yes

Quite short pause

But

short pause

I’ve nothing more to say

OLD WOMAN

No

quite short pause

but does anything need to be said

OLD MAN

No

quite short pause

no perhaps not

OLD WOMAN

Nothing

needs to be said

OLD MAN

No

quite short pause

But

short pause

are you alright

OLD WOMAN

Yes

yes I’m alright

OLD MAN

And you’re never scared anymore

OLD WOMAN

I’m never scared anymore

Long pause

THE SHADOW

to The Old Woman

You must come now

OLD MAN

I don’t understand

that you’re gone

quite short pause

and then suddenly

you’re there

again

OLD WOMAN

That’s just how it is

OLD MAN

questioningly

I can’t understand it

OLD WOMAN

No

Short pause

OLD MAN

questioningly

No place

No thing

OLD WOMAN

No place

No thing

Pause

And one place

And one thing

Pause

OLD MAN

I’m tired

Short pause

And I no longer want

to be here

OLD WOMAN

almost despairingly

Yes

quite short pause

yes you shall be here

quite short pause

you shall be here

with me

quite short pause

always

always here

you and I

you and I together

for ever

anything else

quite short pause

anything else is unthinkable

anything else doesn’t exist

you

quite short pause

you and I

always you and I

Quite short pause

And you see

I’m here now

Quite short pause

OLD MAN

I don’t want to be alone

OLD WOMAN

But I’m here

THE SHADOW

You must come now

Pause. The Shadow walks over to The Old Woman

OLD MAN

Are you tired

OLD WOMAN

Yes

Pause. The Shadow moves away from The Old Woman and she walks after him, followed by The Young Woman

OLD MAN

But

my dear

my good old thing

you mustn’t go away from me

OLD WOMAN

I’m always here

OLD MAN

I’m always alone

OLD WOMAN

I’m always

where you are

OLD MAN

But I don’t want to be here any longer

Pause

I don’t want to

Short pause. The Old Man and The Young Man follow The Old Woman and The Young Woman and The Shadow

OLD WOMAN

You mustn’t say things like that

OLD MAN

I’ve been here for so long

OLD WOMAN

We must be here

You and I must be here

Pause. The Shadow stands still and The Old Woman and The Young Woman stand behind The Shadow and The Old Man and The Young Man stand behind them again

OLD WOMAN

I’m where you are

I’m always

where you are

quite short pause

always you and I

The Young Woman takes The Old Woman’s arm

OLD MAN

I don’t know what to say

I don’t know what to do

THE SHADOW

I am here

Always am I here

FIRST VOICE

I’m here

quite short pause

I’m always with you

SECOND VOICE

I’m here always

I am you

I am the world

OLD MAN

I don’t want to be here any longer

I’ve been here long enough

The Young Man takes The Old Man’s arm

THE SHADOW

to The Old Woman

I am waiting

You must come now

I am waiting for you

I am the sky

FIRST VOICE

We are always here

SECOND VOICE

Must we always be here

THE SHADOW

You must always be here

SECOND VOICE

We are here

quite short pause

where it comes

goes away

FIRST VOICE

They come

Disappear

SECOND VOICE

Are here

Go away

FIRST VOICE

But we must always be here

SECOND VOICE

Come

Go away

FIRST VOICE

Are born

SECOND VOICE